Deck lid hinge



May 4, 1954. T.`v|GMosTAD 2,677,146

DECK LID HINGE Filed April 4, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l inv/715K May 4, 1954 T. vlGMosTAD 2,677,146

DECK LID HINGE Filed April 4, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7Min/5% Patented May 4, 1954 param OFFICE DECK LID HINGE Application April 4, 1950, Serial No. 153,790

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a hinge device which is particularly but not exclusively adapted for hingedly connecting an automobile rear deck lid to the vehicle body.

An object of the inven-tion is yto provide an improved compact hinge device of simplied, eccnomical construction for a swinging member, such as an automobile rear deck lid, which is particularly ecient in operation and which occupies a minimum space in the vehicle storage compartment.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a hinge device having improved means for counterbalancing the lid during opening and closing thereof and which incorporates simple and improved means for holding the lid in the open or raised position without recourse to the usual deck lid stay or like supporting means, yet which permits the lid to be readily and simply closed without the necessity of rst breaking a toggle joint or releasing a stay or other support as customarily employed to hold a vehicle rear deck lid in the raised position.

Another and more specific object is to provide an improved hinge structure which is particularly adapted for use with a rear deck lid of considerable curvature, and which will swing the lid `bodily rearward from the Vehicle and simultaneously upward to a raised position, whereby a curved lid may be raised to a position practically vertically above the hinge structure or fulcrum with a minimum of overall forward swinging, thus eliminating the usual diiiiculty of avoiding Contact between the curved lid in the raised position and upper portions of the vehicle body.

Another object is to provide a simple and improved means for counterbalancing the lid throughout its swinging movement and to hold the lid positively and safely in the raised position, including a counterbalancing link pivotally connected at one end to the vehicle body below the hinge structure and at the other end to one end of a connecting link in the nature of a toggle. The other end of the connecting link is pivotally connected to the hinge structure for driving the latter by toggle action from the closed to the raised posi-tion of the lid as the pivotally connected counterbalancing link and connecting link swing from a jack-knifed or folded condition substantially to a straightened condition. The counterbalancing means also includes a torsion spring yieldingly urging the counterbalancing link to the unfolded or straightened condition with respect to the connecting link. Thus the maximum leverage of the toggle will be available to assist the spring means in holding the lid at the raised position. As the toggle is folded against the tension of the spring upon closure of the lid, the spring tension will increase as the toggle leverage resisting closure decreases. By selecting a spring means of suitable tension and resiliency, a substantially uniform counterbalance for the weight of the lid may be achieved throughout its major hinge movement.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the sever-al views.

Fig. 1 is a, fragmentary perspective view showing the rear end of a vehicle body having a rear deck lid hingedly mounted thereon in accordance with the present invention, portions of the deck lid being broken away to show the location of the hinge structure.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section taken in the direction of the arrows substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing details of the hinge structure in the closed position.

Fig. 3 is substantially a top View of the structure shown in Fig. 2, with the body of the lid removed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section taken in the direction of the arrows substantially along the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the deck lid and hinge structure inthe raised or open position.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be `understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Likewise, although the present invention is illustrated by way of example in connection with a hinge structure for an automobile rear deck lid, it will be apparent `from the following that the invention may be readily adapted for other uses and other situations concerned with problems similar to those described herein.

Referring to the drawings, details of a preferred embodiment and application of the present invention are sho-wn ccmprising a hinge device employed to mount a conventional automobile rear deck lid A on a vehicle body B. Preferably two similar hinge devices for the lid A are employed, one near each side of the body B and substantia-ily the same in structure and operation as the other. Accordingly details of the device at the left side of the vehicle only are shown and discussed herein.

The deck lid A comprises in the present instance outer and inner sheet metal panels if] and I2, suitably held in spaced relation, and a pair of laterally spaced channel-shaped hinge arms I4 opening toward each other, Figs. 2 and S. Each arm I8 is rigidly bolted along its upper channel surface to the inner panel I2 by bolts i6 and is formed with a vertically oset portion Ma which extends generally horizontally forward at a level below the bolts I6 when the lid is in the closed position.

Each hinge device is supported by means of a generally vertical laterally opening channel bracket having a base I8 offset inward and vertical flanges I8a and Itb extending forward and rearward respectively from the channel mouth. The flanges lila, |812 are shaped to conform to the adjacent body structure and are secured thereto by bolts 20, Fig. 2.

Each hinge arm extension I4a is hingedly connected to the associated channel bracket base i8 on the same side of the vehicle by means of a pair of swinging links of approximately equal length, identified herein as a counterbalancing link 22 and a guide link 24. t will be apparent that both links 22, 24 serve to guide the swinging movement of the lid A and either link may be suitably adapted to serve as a counterbalance substantially as outlined below.

The upper end of the link 22 is pivotally secured to the base I6 adjacent the central upper inner surface thereof by means of a horizontal transverse pivotal pin 26 having an out-of-round portion extending through and keyed to the link 22 for pivoting therewith as a unit, the inward end of the pin 26 being flared adjacent the link 22 as indicated in Fig. 4. From the pin 26, the link 22 extends downward and slightly forward lat the closed position of the lid A and is pivotally secured to the channel base of the hinge arm i@ near the forward end of the extension Ilia by means of a horizontal transverse pivot 2S.

The link 24 is pivotally connected at one end to the inner surface of the base I8 by means of a horizontal transverse pivot 36 located somewhat above and rearward of the pin 26 and is pivotally connected at its other end to the channel base of the extension I4a by means of a transverse horizontal pivot 32 located approximately directly below the pivot 30 at a level intermediate the pivots 26 and 28 when the lid A is in the closed position.

The dimensions of the links 22, 24 and the locations of their respective pivotal connections with the bracket base I8 and hinge arm extension IlIa are determined so that upon rearward swinging of these links about the fixed axes of their respective pivots 26, 30, the hinge arm I4 will be swung bodily rearward and counterclockwise through an appreciable arc to the raised position, Fig. 5, locating the pivotl32 approximately directly above the pivot 28 and the hinge arm extension Illa in a generally upright position. As a result of this construction, the lid A is simultaneously swung rearward and upward and may thus be opened practically vertically with a a horizontal transverse pivot 42.

minimum of forward swinging. The difficulty of avoiding contact between a deck lid of considerable curvature and other portions of the vehicle body when the lid is in the raised position is accordingly eliminated.

A lower counterbalancing link 34 of approximately the same length as the links 22, 24 is pivotally connected at its lower end to the inner side of the base I8 by means of a horizontal transverse pivotal pin 36 located approximately directly below the pin 26, so that the hinge arm extension Ilia in the closed position extends forward approximately midway between the pins 26 and 36, Fig. 2. Similar to the pin 26, the portion of the pin 36 extending through the link 34 is out-of-round to key the pin 36 and link 34 together for pivoting as a unit. The inner end of the pin 36 is also ilared against the link 34.

The upper end of the link 34 is pivotally connected by means of a horizontal transverse pivot 38 to one end of a connecting link 48. The latter is pivotally connected at its other end to the link 22 intermediate the pivots 2S and 28 by means of The links 34 and 4E) are dimensioned so that in the closed position of the lid A, these links are folded or jackknifed in the nature of a toggle about their common pivotal connection and the latter is located forward of the pivot 28 at a level approximately midway between the pivots 36 and 42. Upon rearward swinging of the link 34 to the raised position of the lid A, Fig. 5, the toggle links 34, 46 unfold almost to positions of upright linear alignment and the connecting link i8 swings the link 22 rearward to substantially a horizontal position. Thus the force of the nal unfolding movement of the toggle links 34, 48 is directed generally upward against the link 22 so as to support the Weight of the lid A. 'I'he pivot 52 is located. intermediate the pivots 26 and 28 rather than coaxially with the pivot 28, so as to increase the swing imparted to the lid A for a corresponding swinging movement of the arm34. However the pivot 42 is preferably located closer to the pivot 28 than to the pivot 26 in order to increase the leverage available to support the lid in the raised position.

In order that the lid A and hinge structure may be returned readily from the raised to the closed position, it is important that the toggle pivot 38 does not reach or pass the position of dead-center alignment between the pivots 36 and 42. To this end, a horizontal stop 44 having a vertical base 46 welded to the interior surface of the base I8 is located to abut the link 34 at the desired limit of its rearward swinging when the lid is in the raised position.

Referring to Fig. 4, the body of the pin 26 extends laterally from the out-of-round portion within the upper counterbalancing link 22 and enlarges at a cylindrical portion 48 having a coaxial fianged bushing 58 mounted thereon. The latter is journaled within a pvot opening 52 in the base i8 and is held against lateral movement by an annular retaining ange or enlargement 54 of the pin 26. From the flange 54 the pin 26 extends laterally as a slotted stud 56 'having a diametrical spring retaining slot 58. The inner end of a spiral torsion spring 66 is retained within the slot 58, from which the spring 60 extends spirally counterclockwise about the axis of the stud 55. The outer end of the spring 66 is hooked under tension at 62 over a transverse bracket 64 extending from the upper edge of the base I8, Figs. 2 and 5.

Similarly to the .Din 26, the pin 38 extends laterally from its outoi`round portion within the lower counterbalancing link 34 and enlarges at a cylindrical portion te having a flanged coaxial bushing 63 mounted thereon and journaled within a pivot opening l0 in the bracket base I8. The pin 36 is provided with an annular enlargement or retaining flange 'i2 adjacent and laterally of the bushing @8 and extends laterally from the flange 'i2 as a slotted stud 'I4 having a diametrical spring retaining slot '16. A spiral torsion spring i8, retained at its inner end within the slot 16, extends spirally clockwise about the axis of the stud lli. The outer end of the spring 'FS terminates in a hook portion 80 hooked under tension over the transverse arm 82 of a right angle bracket having a vertical base 84 welded to the outer face of the base I3, Figs. 4 and 5.

The torsion springs Se and 'i8 subject the associated counterbalancing links 22 and 34 to continuous spring tension urging these links pivotally rearward from the closed position of Fig. 2 to the raised position of Fig. 5, thus serving to counterbalance the weight of the deck lid throughout its swinging movement. It is to be noted that as the deck lid A swings upward to the raised. position, its center of gravity moves forward over the hinge structure, so that the resulting torque effected by the weight of the lid tending to swing the latter downward gradually decreases as the lid approaches the raised position. At the same time the springs 60 and 'IB partially unwind with the result that their effective counterbalancing forces diminish as the deck lid approaches the raised position. By properly tensioning the springs 50 and 13, the weight of the lid A may be approximately counterbalanced at all pivotal positions so as to minimize the manual eiort required either to raise or lower the lid.

Inasrnuch as the toggle effected by the links 34, le is substantially in the straightened or unfolded position at the upper limit of movement of the lid A, a comparatively slight force exerted by the spring it urging the arm 34 against the stop M will counterbalance a comparatively large force directed longitudinally of the lin-k 40, as for example the weight of the lid directed through the pivot 42 tending to fold the toggle and swing the link 34 counterclockwise. Thus the vertically directed weight of the lid A acting substantially longitudinally of the link di) through the pivot l2 is readily counterbalanced by a comparatively lightweight spring iii, so as to maintain the lid positively and safely in the raised position. The great leverage aiiorded by the rearward extension of the lid A permits the same to be readily swung to the closed position with slight manual effort when operated from the usual deck lid handle 85 located near the rearward portion of the lid, Fig. l.

It is to be noted that by virtue of the operative connection between the various swinging links and hinge arm Eli, each spring Si! and 18 serves to swing the counterbalancing links to the raised position as described. Accordingly either the spring to or spring 'i8 may be adapted to serve the function of the two springs shown, although a division oi the counterbalancing load between two comparatively lightweight springs is preferred and permits economies and a lightweight spring mounting.

I claim:

1. In a hinge device connecting a vehicle body with a rear deck lid for swinging the lid between closed and raised positions, a hinge arm adapted to be rigidly secured to the lid and having an extension projecting generally forward when the lid is in closed position, a connecting link, upper and lower swinging counterbalancing links adapted to be pivotally connected respectively to the body at xed positions above and below the hinge arm extension at the closed position of the lid and also pivotally connected respectively to the hinge arm extension and to one end of the connecting link, the connecting link being pvotally connected at its other end to the upper counterbalancing link intermediate the pivotal connections of the latter with the body and hinge arm, a guide link adapted to be pivotally connected to the body above the hinge arm extension at the closed position of the lid and rearward from the fixed pivotal connection of the upper counterbalancing link and also pivotally connected to the hinge arm extension at a location rearward of the pivotal connection between the upper counterbalancing link and hinge arm at the closed position of the lid and above the last named pivotal connection in the raised position of the lid, and spring means urging rearward swinging of the counterbalancing links.

2. In a hinge device connecting a vehicle body with a rear deck lid for swinging the lid between closed and raised positions, a hinge arm adapted to be rigidly secured to the lid and having an extension projecting generally forward when the lid is in closed position, a connecting link, upper and lower swinging counterbalancing links adapted to be pivotally connected respectively to the body at fixed positions above and below the hinge arm extension at the closed position of the lid and also pivotally connected respectively to the hinge arm extension and to one end of the connecting link, the connecting link being pivotally connected at its other end to the upper counterbalancing link intermediate the pivotal connections of the latter with the body and hinge arm, the lower counterbalancin-g link and connecting link being adapted to extend generally rearward from their common pivotal connection to their respective pivotal connections with the body and upper counterbalancing link at the closed position of the lid and being adapted to unfold from their closed positions almost to positions of linear alignment 'between their pivotal connections at the raised position of the lid, a guide link adapted to be pivotally connected to the body above the hinge arm extension at the closed position of the lid and rearward from the xed pivotal connection of the upper counterbalancing link and also pivotally connected to the hinge arm extension at a location rearward of the pivotal connection between the upper counterbalancing link and hinge arm at the closed position of the lid and above the last named pivotal connection4 in the raised position of the lid, and spring means urging rearward swinging of the counterbalancing links.

3. In a hinge device connectine a vehicle body with a rear deck lid for swinging the lid between closed and raised positions, a hinge arm adapted to be rigidly secured to the lid and having an extension projecting generally forward when the lid is in closed position, a connecting link, upper and lower swinging counterbalancing links adapted to be pivotally connected respectively to the body at xed positions above and below the hinge arm extension at the closed position of the lid and also pivotally connected respectively to the hinge arm extension and to one end of the connecting link, the connecting link being pivot-r afname ally connected at its other end to the upper counterbalancing link, the lower counterbalancing link and connecting link being adapted to extend generally rearward from their common pivotal connection to their respective pivotal connections with the body and upper counterbalancing link at the closed position of the lid and being adapted to unfold from their closed positions almost to positions of linear alignment between their pivotal connections at the raised position of the lid, a guide link adapted to be pivotally connected to the body and also pivotally connected to the hinge arm extension at a location rearward of the pivotal connection between the upper counterbalancing link and hinge arm at the closed position of the lid and above the last named pivotal connection in the raised position of the lid, and spring means urging rearward swinging of the counterbalancing links.

4. In a hinge device for a vertically swinging vehicle rear deck lid adapted to be opened and closed from the rear end, a hinge arm adapted to be rigidly secured to the lid to extend forward therefrom when the lid is closed, supporting means adapted to be rigidly secured to the vehicle body, a pair of swinging links spaced longitudinally of the hinge arm and extending generally upright when the lid is closed, the upper and lower ends of the links being pivotally connected respectively to the supporting means and hinge arm, a counterbalancing link pivotally connected at one end to the supporting means below said swinging links to swing forward or rearward, a connecting link pivotally connected to the other end of the counterbalancing link and to the foremost of said swinging links, and spring means yieldingly urging the counterbalancing link pivotally rearward.

5. In a hinge device for a vertically swinging vehicle rear deck lid adapted to be opened and closed from the rear end, a hinge arm adapted to be rigidly secured to the lid to extend forward therefrom when the lid is closed, supporting means adapted to be rigidly secured to the Vehicle body, a pair of swinging links suspending the hinge arm from the supporting means when the lid is closed and being pivotally connected at their upper and lower ends respectively to the supporting means and hinge arm, a 'counterbalancing link pivotally connected at one end to the supporting means below said swinging links to swing forward 01 rearward, a connecting link pivotally connected to the other end of the countei-balancing link and to one of said swinging links, and spring means yieldingly urging the counterbalancing link pivotally rearward.

6. In a hinge device for a vertically swinging vehicle rear deck lid adapted to be opened and closed from its rear end, e, hinge arm member adapted to be rigidly secured to the lid to extend forward therefrom when the lid is closed, supporting means adapted to be rigidly secured to the vehicle body, a pair of swinging link members suspending the hinge arm member from the supporting means spaced longitudinally of the arm member when the lid is closed and having their upper and lower ends pivotally connected respectively to the supporting means and hinge arm member, a counterbalancing link pivotally connected at one end to the supporting means below said swinging link members to swing forward or rearward, a connecting link pivotally connected to the other end of the counterbalancing link and to one of the above named members,

8 and spring means yieldingly urging the counterbalancing link pivotally rearward.

7. In a hinge device for a vertically swinging vehicle rear deck lid adapted to be opened and closed from its rear end, a hinge arm member adapted to be rigidly secured to the lid to extend forward therefrom when the lid is closed, supporting means adapted to be rigidly secured to the vehicle body, a pair of swinging link members suspending the hinge arm member from the supporting means and spaced longitudinally of the arm member when the lid is closed and having their upper and lower ends pivotally connested respectively to the supporting means and hinge arm member, a counterbalancing link pivotally connected at one end to the supporting means below said swinging link members to swing forward or rearward, a connecting link pivotally connected to the other end of the counterbalancing link and to one of said members, the counterbalancing link and connecting link extending generally rearward from their common pivotal connection to their respective pivotal connections with the supporting means and member when the lid is closed, and spring means yieldingly urging the counterbalancing link pivotally rearward.

8. In a hinge device for a vertically swinging vehicle rear deck lid adapted to be opened and closed from its rear end, a hinge arm adapted to be rigidly secured to the lid to extend forward therefrom when the lid is closed, supporting means adapted to be rigidly secured to the vehicle body, means suspending the hinge arm from the supporting means when the lid is closed comprising a pair of swinging links spaced longitudinally ofthe hinge arm and pivotally connected at their upper and lower ends respectively to the supporting means and hinge arm, a counterbalancing link pivotally connected at one end to the supporting means below the foremost of said swinging links to swing forward or rearward, a connecting link pivotally connected to the other end of the counterbalancing link and to the foremost of said swinging links at the closed position of the lid, the counterbalancing link and connecting link extending generally rearward from their common pivotal connection to their respective pivotal connections with the supporting means and foremost link when the lid is closed, and spring means yieldingly urging the counterbalancing link pivotally rearward.

9. In a hinge device for a vertically swinging vehicle rear deck lid member adapted to be opened and closed from its rear end, a pair of swinging link members, each having upper and lower ends adapted to be pivotally connected respectively to the vehicle body and to the forward portions of said lid member, a counter-balancing link having a lower end adapted to be pivotally connected to the body below the swinging link members for swinging its upper end forward or rearward, a connecting link pivotally connected to the upper end of the counterbalancing link and to one of the above named members, and spring means yieldingly urging the counterbalancing link pivotally rearward.

10. In a hinge device for a vertically swinging vehicle rear deck lid adapted to be opened and closed from its rear end, a pair of swinging links spaced longitudinally of the vehicle body and each having upper and lower ends adapted to be pivotally connected respectively to the vehicle body and to the forward portions of said lid, a counterbalancing link having a lower end adapted to be pivotally connected to the body below the swinging links for swinging its upper end forward or rearward, a connecting link pivotally connected to the upper end of the counterbalaneing link and to the foremost of said pair of swinging links, and spring means yieldingly urging the counterbalancing link pivotally rearward.

11. In a hinge device for a vertically swinging vehicle rear deck lid adapted to be opened and closed from its rear end, a pair of swinging links spaced longitudinally of the vehicle body and each having upper and lower ends adapted to be pivotally connected respectively to the vehicle body and to the forward portions of said lid, a counterbalancing link having a lower end adapted to be pivotally connected to the body below the swinging links for swinging its upper end forward or rearward, a connecting link having a forward end pivotally connected to the upper end of the counterbalancing link and having a rearward end pivotally connected to the foremost of said pair of swinging links, and spring means yieldingly urging the counterbalancing link pivotally rearward.

l2. In a hinge device for a vertically swinging vehicle rear deck lid adapted to be opened and closed from its rear end, a hinge arm adapted to be rigidly secured to the lid and having an extension located forwardly of the lid when the lid is closed, supporting means adapted to be rigidly secured to the vehicle body, a connecting link, upper and lower swinging counterbalancing links pivotally connected respectively to the supporting means at fixed locations above and below the hinge arm extension when the lid is closed and also connected respectively to the hinge arm extension and to one end of the connecting link, the other end of the connecting link being pivotally connected to the upper counterbalancing link, a guide link having upper and lower ends, the upper end of the guide link being pivotally connected to the supporting means at a location rearward of the fixed pivotal connection of the upper counterbalancing link and above the hinge arm extension, the lower end of the guide link being pivotally connected to the hinge arm eX- tension at a location rearward of the latters pivotal connection with the upper counterbalancing link when the lid is closed, and a pair of torsion springs, one of said springs being enl() gaged with one of each of said counterbalancing links to urge rearward swinging thereof.

13. In a hinge device for a vertically swinging vehicle rear deck lid adapted to be opened and closed from its rear end, a hinge arm adapted to be rigidly secured to the lid and having an extension located forwardly of the lid when the lid is closed, supporting means adapted to be rigidly secured to the vehicle body, a rearwardly inclined connecting link, upper and lower swinging counterbalancing links pivotally connected respectively to the supporting means at fixed locations substantially in vertical alignment above and below the hinge arm extension when the lid is closed and also connected respectively to the hinge arm extension and to the lower forward end of the connecting link, the other end of the connecting link being pivotally connected to the upper counterbalancing link, the lower count-erbalancing link being forwardly inclined from its pivotal connection with the body to its pivotal connection with the connecting link when the lid is closed, a guide link having upper and lower ends, the upper end of the guide link being pivotally connected to the supporting means at a location rearward of the fixed pivotal connection of the upper counterbalancing link and above the hinge arm extension, the lower end of the guide link being pivotally connected to the hinge arm extension at a location rearward of the latters pivotal connection with the upper counterbalancing link when the lid is closed, and a pair of torsion springs, one of said springs being engaged with one of each of said counterbalancing links to urge rearward swinging thereof.

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